Posthole-digging machine



A. CHATTSTROM.

POSTHOLE DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE i2, 1919.

1 ,356,1 25 Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

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IN VENTOR I kiwi/1M Hi8 ATTORNEY A. CHATTSTROM. POSTHOLE DIGGING MACHINE. APPLI CATiON HLED JUNEIZ, 1919 Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

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HAS A TTORNEY nism therefor; means iio'r guiding UNIT-ED TESrATENT OFFICE-[i Aivnnns onar rsrnorr, ornavnnron'r, Iowa.

rosrrroLn-nresrne ivrAGrImn Specification or Iietters Patent. I Patented 06%;:19, 1920.

Application filediJune ia ieia' srialNo; 303,743.

To alliohom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, i. NDERS Grmr'rs'rnoiu, accitizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county oi": Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements inPosthole-Digging Machines, of which the tfollowing is a. SPQClfithe same is not absolutely level.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view 01": my invention, with portions thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4: show the telescopic leg in different positions. a

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of operating mechanism for the machine.

Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, plan and edge views of the plate 11.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the cleaning tool 12 in edge and side views.

The frame of the machine consists of a plate 1, supported by legs 2, one of which is provided with a telescopicsection 3, provided at its lower endwith a perforated foot 4:, to receive'a spike 5. The other legs are turned at'their lower ends into perforated feet 6, also adapted for use in spiking the 1 frame to the ground. The parts of the telescopic leg arecapableof being fixed in adjusted positlons by means'of a set-screw 3, seated in the part 3. When the frame is located on groundhaving an inclined sur;

face the telescopic leg is lengthened or shortened so as to conform thereto, and hold the.

plate 1 in a horizontal position.

The plate 1 is provided with a centra threaded bearing'F, in which a screw 8 has the upperend of such screw- The vertical play, having a hand-bar 9 for operation. screw 8 is projected downwardly into an auger 10, of suitable dimensions for excavating the earth to form a hole of desired receptacle.

size. Mountedon the legsQ at a distance belowthep'late 1 is a plate 11, provided'with.

a central opening 12. through which the auger 10 passes, the size of the openingfbeing very little greater than the diameter of the augerys'o as to limit the movement of suchauger laterally. A; set'of the plates 11 can be provided with different sized openings, as indicated in broken lines in Fig.6,

which are used in the machine. I

Just beneaththe platellra scraper 12 is pivotally supported, as at a, and provided with a handle 18. The "blade-of the scraper, when swunginwardly, is in proximity to the spiral blade of the auger, and aids in keepto conform to angers of varying diameters ing the same free from dirt. When it is j not desired to use the scraper it can be turned to one side by means of the handle Mounted on the plate 11, is a receptacle 14; provlded at its lower end with a valve cons '13, as shown in broken lines n Flg. 1.

trolled nozzle 15 Said receptacletisHin-T .Q,

tendedfor a supply of water, to be furnished to the auger when in operation, wettingand dissolving the earth, and renderingthe operation of the auger less difficult.

The operation of the screw rotates the auger, and at the same time forces it gradually into the ground, similarly to devices of that kind now in use, the plate 11 holding the auger and frame in steady. position with relation to each other. Said plate not only acts as a guide for the auger, but italso furnishes a" brace "for the "legs, a suppor for thescraper, and a support for the water In 5 the screw 8 is shown provided at its upper end with a bevel-gear wheel 16, in mesh with gear-pinion 17 on a shaft 18 supported from the upper end ottthe screw.

The outer end of said shaft has fixed thereto a crank 19by means or. which it can be operated. The operation of the shaft is imparted through the wheels 17 and 16' to the screw 8, to cause rotation thereof.

What I claim and desire tolsecurais T I loo 1. A deviceoi the class described, com v T prising a frame; a screwvertically operable in said frame; an auger operatively connected with said screw; a: guide-member for said auger mounted in said -frame; and a scraper pivotally mountedin said machine 110 p and adapted: to be brought into proximity with said auger.

,2.-A device of the class described, complate; an anger on the lower end or said screw; an auxiliary plate mounted on Sfild legs and provided with a central opening for said auger; and a water supply receptacle mounted on said auxillaryplate and adapted to direct a stream oi? Water upon said auger.

3. A device of the class described, com

prising a frame: provided with supporting legs a screw mounted in sa d frame so as V, to be vertically movable therein; an anger on the lowerend of screw; and an auxiliary supporting member mounted 1n said frame and furnishing a guide for said,

auger; one of said legs being telescopically formed, and capable of being held in adjusted positions.

4. A device of the class described comprising a plate and supporting legs therefor; a screw vertically movable in said plate; an auger operatively connected with said screw; an auxiliary plate mounted on said legsand provided with a centralopening, forming a guide for said auger; a scraper pivotally mountedon the lower face of said auxiliary plate; and'a water supply receptacle mounted on said auxiliary plate and provided with a suitable outlet;

In testimony whereof I. affix niyfsignature.

ANDERS" CHATTSTROM. 

